don't you know the. party gets exclusive access to a meeting between russia's foreign minister and the north korean leader our correspondent was the only international reporter allowed into kim that's. why it was the two main euro skeptics are these strike you last minute deal to form a coalition government avoiding the need for a new election. and the u.s. imposes. on the aluminum and steel imports from the e.u. and other allies despite threats of retaliation. for the latest on these stories you can head to our t dot com coming up though the foreign minister of hungary is the guest on sophie and co talking about the future of the european union.

the e.u. doesn't know what to do with this member hungary where a strong prime minister all run by the vision for the future of the union so how will hungary hold under pressure and what will this dispute mean for the future of the union well i asked the hungary and foreign minister peter. a rift is widening across the e.u. cutting the lines on the lawn in the shadow of the former iron curtain with eastern european members growing frustrated with brussels orders and the establishment put off by the eastern part. in particular with hungary's migration and political decision is there room in the union for several political divisions. can the party

should figure out a way to balance national and continental interests or does the e.u. risk being torn apart by the east west confrontation with their staff so it's really good to have you again on our program welcome back its way on their society value here there are tensions between hungary and ukraine over their rights of the ethnic and variance in the west and you have said that ukraine step hungary in the back what is your reaction going to be hungary is reaction. well you know hungary was maybe the loudest supporter within the european union to the ukrainians to get the visa free regime and to make the grayness. agreement come into force and unfortunately a couple of days after that there was a regulation passed in the ukrainian parliament which always the rights of the hunger ians obviously when it comes to education on the mother tongue so so we made

it very clear that we have to use all kinds of instruments in the toolbox of international politics in order to make sure that the rights of the young ones rule be restored in ukraine so he had signed a memorandum to nato suggesting that when they're in sion abide by ukrainian lol why nato then do you think it's going to back up your number and well you know of your part of the alliance so it's obvious that we form our allies our policy towards a country which has the inspiration to go forward when it comes to the. integration path and that will be very happy to come back to our position to support ukrainians on this path but definitely the ukrainians have to comply with the international regulations when it comes to mind there it is given this commission made a very clear proposal. the ukrainians to consult with the national

minorities to do more to implement any kind of regulations we could basically a while leaves the already existing rights of the mind the reviews so all we want is nothing special nothing extraordinary just ukraine to comply with the e.u. regulations and with the proposal of the venice commission to your member into nato it was just to inform their the allies for other than expect a reaction from them world there is a continuous negotiation going on of course with nato member states with allies within the european union about how we see these situation we made a proposal there that. those mind there it is belonging to nato member states should be exempt from such kind of regulations we will see whether there's a the reaction from our allies and then we'll continue the dialogue and the discussion of the so members of the european parliamentary accusing hungary of

human rights violations saying that your prime minister is actually smearing critics journalist and you as you've said those are lies why do they have such a harsh stance on your prime minister you know. we had a very and we still have a very serious debate the international network which is led and financed by george soros in the name you might know and the or watchers might know was as well we have a very open and a very serious debate with him as the hungary and government has a very strong anti in my policy we made it very clear that it is only osce hungary and who can make a decision. to come to hungary it is only us hungry areas to make a decision on the veto we will not live together we don't want. neither the

european union the already united nations to force us to to you why it's people in our country whom we do not want to invite we made it very clear that protection of our border and guaranteeing the security of our citizens is the number one priority for us and george soros and his network is totally against this. concept against this strategy he would like to in the wide millions of migrants to europe on an annual basis he basically want to get rid of the phenomenon of of nation states so this is a very open very open conflict and confrontation between us and we have to see that that the source not for it does definitely have people or members of the european parliament and these kind of attacks against my country against our

government against our prime minister are based on this political approach you know these kind of reports which are being written about my country these are absolutely take facts out of your grocery list so they gradually absolutely i mean you just just let me give you two examples all these accusations say that there is no freedom of media freedom of press in hungary but if you look at the internet for example you look at the web pages you will see that the anti government rhetoric and the critics on the government is in the vase majority compared to those news which are favoring the government or which are considering government decision as positive so and you know in hungary it would be totally impossible to hide facts like my rants of. the citizens of our country in some vested european countries it did happen or when it comes to. when it comes to anti-semitism it's

a constant taker's ation against us although we are proud that we have absolutely implemented zero tolerance against. semitism there's the biggest sense does the biggest jewish community of central europe living in budapest we do not only renovate the synagogues really in hungary but around hungary as well and you know it's not good at best there are jewish youngsters a very good keeper are attacked on the open streets in those areas everywhere yes and all this and compared to there to be are always on the regulations are also accusing your government of stepping and in attendance of the judiciary and they're actually threatening to invoke the e.u. law i think it's article seven they were actually stripped hungary of the e.u. but. yeah well i could come to that well actually there are definitely some endeavors to put very heavy attacks on hungary and on poland as well so

procedure based on article seven you referred to was kind of launched in the relationship for poland we oppose that because they think it's absolutely based on double standards and when you when you put facts into consideration there is no factual ground there's no factual basis to launch such kind of a procedure against hungary because for example in terms of judiciary you were kind enough to refer to yes we did have debates with the european commission about legislation in hungary regarding the judiciary system but the fact is that we have already closed all these issues in three different ways either we understood the commission was right and then changed the deregulation either the commission admitted that we were right and then we left it as it was or we couldn't agree and then we went to the european court and they respected the regulation of the decision of the european court so these are all closed issue. so so all these

issues which are being put in the report about hungary just very recently in the committee of. the justice of the european parliament these are mostly already closed issues between the the european commission and. so. in general brad breasts always have lots of demands when it comes to hungary and they're actually saying that in hungary it doesn't meet those demands whether it's judiciary or freedom a prat or immigration they're actually saying that well may not find you in the next year budget so here's i think it's only that whatever you give the only makes up six percent of your budget first of all is it worth it is is that money worth doing everything they want you to did because i know that mr abang has said you know we don't have to live off german money anyways well you know hunger is interest is european union to be strong because we. a strong conquering needs a strong european union because we have

a very open economy and seventy nine percent of our exports goes to the european union we have an export over g.d.p. ratio around ninety percent so you can imagine how significant for us it is the european union to be stronger and european union to have a competitive economy on the other hand when it comes to europe in the funds yes your funds play an important role in our economy but this is not the war on the road because we don't get these funds as as gift or as a humanitarian aid or as a donation from our best or new opium friends these funds are to be given to us based on contracts based on concerts in the wife because the hunger and economy has been opened the hungary a market has been opened for vester and european companies making a lot of profit on the hunger market this is one of the road and the other lane of the road is the european funding so. this is this is not

a another one way road you understand this is a wise versa situation so we totally reject that false context to be painted up on the wall as if we would only joy european funds for free this is and this is not true we have we have complied with our obligations based on the contract as well and according to the statistics of the of the european institutions seventy cents of every one euro which is paid to the sensor european countries go back to western european companies mr we're going to take a short break right now when we come back we'll continue talking to peter sierra talking about the future of hungary within the european union and the kitchen of the union in general stay with us.

the europe must be much stronger in making the decision at twenty eight can we around the table agree on tougher measures on these are china always the us and then the unfortunately easy answer to that so far is not really europe is being too weak and that's why we end up being beaten on the head sometime by the chinese some time by the american and that got to stop. italy's recent elections again demonstrate the e.u. smeal liberal agenda is under continued pressure even under threat grand historic project going how should we understand the italian elections the german elections and drags it in totality.

and i'm back with a whole gary and foreign minister peter here so there's also the opposition of hungary and poland and the east versus west because hungary and cullen are making sure whatever they have to say is heard at this point i don't think russell's likes it what do you thing this versus west opposition in the you could come to a what would it mean for the union well you know we are absolutely interested in the unity of the european union so we oppose all kind of comparison you

were like western and eastern members of the of the european union because european union must show unity. if you put into consideration why poland and why hungary are on their deuce constant torture let's put it this way well it's obvious we have the two strongest governments in the european union and the two countries there are a one party government has received. from the people to govern the country we have politically absolutely stable systems and you know many times it's not life by the to two it's in brussels definitely on the other hand you know there's a big debate in the european union but there are two to go through learned to reform the realistic way the further away stick way would end up in the united states or europe which we oppose our fiscal control. unified budget more

integration that's what france and germany what you have i think it's a it's a viable you know. our position is that european union can only be strong if there are strong member states so we don't think that the concept of we can. states creating a strong european union would be realistic they think that only strong member states. can form a strong european union and that's why for example we are absolutely in favor of the competition between the european union meaning that we don't like the tax harmonize ation for example and we don't want the irresponsible economy. to be communities you know what i mean is that those countries can reduce taxes who are disciplined fiscally speaking and those countries who are who are not disciplined fiscally who let their you know to increase they definitely cannot afford cutting taxes but then the answer should be you know to bash those ones who are able to god

that are your prime minister sees the european union as an alliance of separate states. european union is a uni and that crosses state boundaries and that's like a core principle of european union and european union is based on principles of liberalism your country is and nation based conservative country which is not a good thing or a bad thing russia is the same way so. on the ideological level there are like just so many differences in the basis it's not about economics why do you want to be part of the union so much that opposes everything that you guys stand for well actually. it's not everything is opposed if i think you know if it but you know if you look at the statistics for example how many infringement procedures are going on against us and others you will see that we are some they are in the middle so there's nothing extraordinary in this regard yeah we we have definitely debates based on ideology as well for example you know when it comes to the fact that when

an election is not won by the liberals then the system is immediately going to do or does not do the motor city which is totally unacceptable. if the liberals do not we need to be a democracy of course so that's why what we what we are trying to build in hungary or what we are intending to build in hungary is a christian democracy you know based on christian values virk achievement married based. society there are there are debates about that as well but all in all our interest is a stronger open union because we didn't a strong european union hungary can be strong ok so there's the e.u. commissioner who actually voiced her opinion about hungary and the czech republic and poland voicing their concerns and their views and she said you know those are sandbags those three countries that could be thrown away could it come to that hungary czech republic slovakia and poland the. countries are

members of the european union and the view of the members of the european union even more than that this central europe in the region is currently the growth of the european union our growth rate is much higher than the european average everybody speaks about the german french cooperation when it comes to the issue of european competitiveness and bob if you look at the figures you would see that the trade between germany and division growth countries is fifty five percent higher than the trade annually between germany and france which shows that the economy corporation between germany and sense or europe is extremely strong at cern show you a became kind of a backyard for the german industry which has all these been and which will always be i guess the bone of the european economy so actually the strong central

europe is the interest of the european union because a strong best central europe can contribute to european union being stronger as well that's why we we do. reject all kinds of these kinds of accusations you know against us on political basis that's the bottom line is e.u. is in crisis right now so there is the eastern countries that want more independence in terms of making decisions there is the center brussels france and germany who want tighter integration and maybe a two speed to europe it is absolutely clear that you cannot go on living in the shape that it's in right now something needs to change we don't really know what where do you see hungary in the sunni led do you feel like you'll be one of those like faster integrating countries or do you feel like you would want to be in the second part of the country as well have like. more decisions to themselves but you

know they won't be as integrated as france and germany well if you mean that european union is faced with historic challenges you are right and the only one. we have the migration crisis we have the front of terror we have it we have the end there just security issues and many others we do which we have to deal so that's why i think it's obvious that there are debates going on about the future of the european union because when should the debates go on if not now when we have to find answers for the historic. challenges and over approach is definitely a supernews to approach meaning that those answers which have already been given successfully for to these kind of questions are have been the made on the level of member states for instance the migration issue you no longer is answer was the only successful answer by regaining the control over our own border

with the assistance of the. countries and making the obvious and making it clear that the yes it's absolutely possible to protect your borders and do not let and the illegal. i'm going to have to have you out on that minister because you were so adamant about you know being tough on migration building walls cracking down on n.g.o.s and then secretly you've accepted one thousand two hundred or three hundred and that's like the quotas that the e.u. asks you to accept anyway so what's the point of being so tough one if you're going to secretly accept those. these are two totally different things because. seekers based on the geneva. convention should not be confused with the illegal migrants entering the territorial wars in awhile and you know attacking our police tearing down the fans not respecting the rules and regulations

blocking go or highways or public areas not wanting to go to the to the refugee stations and so on and so forth so these two things should not be confused because these are two totally different issues so the mood in the european union in general is changing like austria has a first chancellor you see germany i mean the far right alternative for germany party is the third biggest party in this stack. and then mccall is like very liberal on words but when it comes to implementing. policies it's pretty much center right as well so do you feel like saying i told you so we've been reprimanded so much for this and then all of you guys are coming to what we're saying you know politics is another profession where you get the credit if you the result that you are right but it is obvious that on the last couple national parliamentary elections within the european union the main issue was migration that

was the case in italy was a case in austria you put it forward right that was the case in hungary and in all free countries those parties receive the most votes who are around the anti migration cornices. the austrian chancellor was deaf. representing an anti migration policy in italy the parties forming the coalition are and by migration parties in hungary we made it very clear that we are not the low and the illegal migrants and during that period of our country you see the latest positions and statements of the of the german minister of interior and you rightly. some new measures implemented by france you see the. statements of the british about the main motivations about the bracks exposed which is definitely in correlation with severity issues of migration and so on and so forth so so definitely migration is becoming the top issue the hot issue the hottest issue on

the current european agent and yes we see that more and more people even more and more political leaders understand that letting you know these migratory influx is a into europe definitely does not serve. the. the target of a better future in the european union so how come so many countries in the you are anti immigrant are really pushing through their ideas and measures about that. and just as many countries are anti rational sanctions that when it comes to extending their salley all agree to extend them why can't you be a square among russian sanctions well if you ask me whether there are double standards i will say yes you know we understand that you know we are a small country. and we understand that the big western european countries make big businesses here if you come to the st petersburg at the national economic forum and you look around and you look for companies coming from e.u.

member states you are definitely see much more companies coming from the western european big e.u. member states the licensor european countries if you see the top event of of this. forum will be the panel which will be shared by the french and the russian president if you look at the preparation you see the biggest western european and the g companies being involved if you if you look at the you look at how the trade figures. are changing between the russia and the western european countries one might be surprised so if you ask me whether there are double standards yes they definitely are there's a big debate in the european union about whether these sanctions versus just fool or not but definitely the unity of the european union this is very important so the decision of all the really it's at the expense of their actions actions yes so

that's why the prolongation of the of the of the sanctions and all that has been decided upon but it's interesting to come to see here the big western european companies making business with their russian and i am and i am at home yet you know we're open to anyone who wants to come and make the horses that's thank you very much for this and thank you for your journey last with everything i do appreciate and dispose of us.

forman are sitting in a car when the phipps gets shot in the head. all four different versions of what. one of them is on the death row there's no way he could have done it there's no possible way because the owners do not shoot around a corner. there

. are. a lot of welcome to the party russians have long maintained that politics and in the continuation of economics by other means and vice versa but many in europe dismissed that view ask you all v.n. not that the e.u. itself come face to face but appear in the call approach of don't trump is there still even a pretense of keeping. moneymaking and politics separate of to discuss that i'm now joined by peter lynch former french secretary of state for foreign trade it's a live issue it's a great pleasure talking to you thank you very much for your time here recently gave an interview suggesting that europe needs to stand up to what you call legal imperialism that brussels needs to make sure that washington respects said

especially when it comes to the threat of terrorism sanctions isn't that few legal too late to be asking for it now. is a different story. to you and the procedure and the beauty you wasn't going to be able to reduce and you believe that the risk factors that procedure. you can raise tariffs and then we can go to you and sue can set them a procedure of the cio to have the tariff even though is the agreeable maybe to. them that's what people call trade wars what you with a trump is a style you know it's like you know it's you know says like the the t.v. show is reality it's a new way of doing diplomacy if i may say so you know the real issue i mean it's unpleasant.